South Sudan’s leader Salva Kiir has dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, who had been mentioned as his successor, in a shocking move.
Kiir stripped Bol Mel of his army general rank and fired him from the State Security Service. He also fired the central bank governor and the tax commissioner, both considered close allies of Boll Mel.
No explanation was provided for the layoffs, which were announced in a decree broadcast on state television.
This comes at a time of growing fears of political instability and a possible return to civil war following the recent collapse of a fragile power-sharing agreement between Kir and opposition leader Riek Machar.
Bol Mel, 47, showed no hostility in his reaction to the dismissal.
“I am deeply grateful to you for granting me the privilege of serving the people of South Sudan as Vice President,” he wrote in a letter to Kiir.
“I am confident that South Sudan and the SPLM (ruling party) will continue to grow under your management.”
Bol Mel was only appointed vice president in February, replacing veteran politician and general James Wani Igga.
He was also promoted to the SPLM’s first vice-president, which analysts believe gives him more power and positions him as a potential figure. 74-year-old successor to Kir. The President later promoted him to General of the National Security Service (NSS).
Bolmel’s promotion comes despite the United States sanctioning him in 2017 over corruption charges, but the sanctions were renewed earlier this year. The U.S. Treasury Department described Bol Mel as Kiir’s “principal financial advisor.” Kiir’s office declined to comment.
Boll Mel has never directly responded to the corruption allegations against him.
The president has not announced a successor to any of the positions he has held.
His dismissal follows speculation on social media about an internal power struggle in the SPLM.
A senior government official, who preferred anonymity for security reasons, told the BBC that Boll Mel had been a ‘divisive figure’ in the government.
“I’m glad he’s gone,” he said.
A taxi driver in the capital Juba also welcomed the dismissal.
“Everyone hates this man. Even in his hometown of Aweil, people celebrated his dismissal. We are happy for President Kiir,” he told the BBC.
Hours before Boll Mel was fired, his security team was reportedly withdrawn from his residence and office in the capital Juba.
South Sudan is an oil-rich country that seceded from Sudan in 2011 and is the world’s newest country. Two years later, after the fall of Kir and Machar, the country descended into civil war.
The power-sharing agreement that ended the war in 2018 has suffered as tensions persist and sporadic violence continues to occur.
Scheduled elections have been postponed twice in the past three years, and fighting between forces loyal to the president and militants has intensified in recent days.
Machar was dismissed as vice president, arrested earlier this year, and in September charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity. This appears to have heightened tensions and sparked fears of new civil unrest. The case is ongoing.
His spokesman described the charges against him as a “political witch hunt”.
The government says Machar killed 250 soldiers and a general in an alleged attack by militias believed to be linked to Machar.
